Assistive Technology Coordinator - Part-time

The Massachusetts Association for the Blind and Visually Impaired (MABVI) has been serving individuals with vision loss since 1903. MABVI provides robust vision rehabilitation and support services throughout Massachusetts to more than 1,200 adults, primarily older adults, who are blind or visually impaired. Programs include access to low vision clinics, peer empowerment support groups, one-to-one volunteer assistance, in-home vision rehabilitation, adjustment counseling/mental health support, and access/assistive technology training. Our unique blend of programs and services enables individuals to learn to live confidently with vision loss. We invite you to join our team!

MABVI has an opening for a part-time The Massachusetts Association for the Blind and Visually Impaired (MABVI) has been serving individuals with vision loss since 1903. MABVI provides robust vision rehabilitation and support services throughout Massachusetts to more than 1,200 adults, primarily older adults, who are blind or visually impaired. Programs include access to low vision clinics, peer empowerment support groups, one-to-one volunteer assistance, in-home vision rehabilitation, adjustment counseling/mental health support, and access/assistive technology training. Our unique blend of programs and services enables individuals to learn to live confidently with vision loss. We invite you to join our team!

MABVI has an opening for a full-time Access Technology Coordinator to support technology adoption among individuals with visual disabilities. Under the general supervision of the Director of Access Technology Training, the Access Technology Coordinator will be responsible for coordinating and providing Access Technology Services in the City of New Bedford, and in future, in other communities in the South Coast region.

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

Provide individualized training for MABVI participants on the use of access technology. Develop lessons and curricula. Work with individuals with blindness or low vision, providing assistive technology assessments and preparing assessments for submission to state or other outside vendors as necessary.

Participate in group access technology training planning and implementation as requested.

Support access technology volunteer trainers/per diem technology training staff. Responsibilities include recruitment, training, coaching, scheduling and matching.

Interface and plan with site partners and senior centers.

Maintain database records and reporting best practices for participant database. Measure program outcomes and prepares grant report data for development department as needed.

Troubleshoot equipment and provide technical support as necessary. Review and test new and emerging technology. Research and stay up to date with trends and developments in access technology.

Attend and participate in team meetings, trainings, and supervision as required.

Participate in planning and development, assisting in the development of long and short-term goals for MABVI’s access technology training and digital accessibility programs and grants.

Train MABVI staff members (OT, O&Ms and other) and assist in troubleshooting employee access tech concerns as needed.

Raise concerns as they arise and work to resolve challenges.

Carry out responsibilities in accordance with the organization's policies and applicable laws.

QUALIFICATIONS

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skills, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

EDUCATION AND/OR EXPERIENCE

· Bachelor's degree from four-year college or university and 3 to five years experience in disability-related fields and technology strongly preferred, or equivalent experience.

· Supervisory experience preferred.

· CATIS, CPACC or other credential in disability education or digital accessibility field preferred; or equivalent professional experience.

· Must have a knowledge of, and keep up to date with, technology used by visually impaired and blind persons.

· Must be familiar with text to speech, screen magnifier, and visual interpreter software and hardware. Preference for familiarity with braille.

· Must have working knowledge of Mac, Windows, Android and iOS operating systems and applications.

· Preferred: Familiarity with digital accessibility best practices and Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG). General awareness of ADA laws, WOIA/rehabilitation Act, IDEA, Section 508, and other disability laws, issues and advocacy efforts strongly preferred. General knowledge of disability rights case law on digital access.

SKILLS

· Strong organizational, interpersonal and time management skills; ability to work well autonomously and well as with teams.

· Work effectively and supportively with older adults and individuals with disabilities, providing individualized training and support.

· Possess good working knowledge of disability studies, vision loss causes and conditions, and their effect on someone’s visual acuity.

· Experience and commitment to working with and supporting participants from diverse cultures and backgrounds.

· Ability to develop and maintain positive working relationships with volunteers, colleagues, employees, and others. Collaborate with partner/host site organizations. Be a proactive community builder.

· Strong oral skills: comfortable presenting information about MABVI services and access technology topics to groups such as participants, community partners, volunteers or employees of the agency.

· Strong written skills: Prepare content for outlines, presentations, Excel spreadsheets and program handouts as requested for program outcome measurements, conference presentations, community presentations.

· Strong database management and record-keeping skills are essential. Complete and update program participant records in a timely manner with high level of sensitivity to participant confidentiality.

· Ability to anticipate problems and plan proactively. Willingness to seek help and supervision when necessary.

· Willingness to travel to multiple sites across the region and ability to travel independently and safely.

OTHER

Job Type: Part-time

Schedule: Day shift

Ability to commute/relocate:

· New Bedford, MA: Reliably commute or planning to relocate before starting work (Required)

· In the future, this Coordinator position may also travel to other South Coast communities to provide technology training in community locations and/or start up new MABVI tech training sites.

Education: Bachelor's (Preferred)

Experience: disability-related fields and technology: 3+ years (Preferred).

Bilingual, Portuguese or other language capacity ideal.

Work Location: Community training sites to support technology adoption among individuals with visual disabilities. Under the general supervision of the Director of Access Technology Training, the Access Technology Coordinator will be responsible for coordinating and providing Access Technology Services in the City of New Bedford, and in future, in other communities in the South Coast region.

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

Provide individualized training for MABVI participants on the use of access technology. Develop lessons and curricula. Work with individuals with blindness or low vision, providing assistive technology assessments and preparing assessments for submission to state or other outside vendors as necessary.

Participate in group access technology training planning and implementation as requested.

Support access technology volunteer trainers/per diem technology training staff. Responsibilities include recruitment, training, coaching, scheduling and matching.

Interface and plan with site partners and senior centers.

Maintain database records and reporting best practices for participant database. Measure program outcomes and prepares grant report data for development department as needed.

Troubleshoot equipment and provide technical support as necessary. Review and test new and emerging technology. Research and stay up to date with trends and developments in access technology.

Attend and participate in team meetings, trainings, and supervision as required.

Participate in planning and development, assisting in the development of long and short-term goals for MABVI’s access technology training and digital accessibility programs and grants.

Train MABVI staff members (OT, O&Ms and other) and assist in troubleshooting employee access tech concerns as needed.

Raise concerns as they arise and work to resolve challenges.

Carry out responsibilities in accordance with the organization's policies and applicable laws.

QUALIFICATIONS

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skills, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

EDUCATION AND/OR EXPERIENCE

· Bachelor's degree from four-year college or university and 3 to five years experience in disability-related fields and technology strongly preferred, or equivalent experience.

· Supervisory experience preferred.

· CATIS, CPACC or other credential in disability education or digital accessibility field preferred; or equivalent professional experience.

· Must have a knowledge of, and keep up to date with, technology used by visually impaired and blind persons.

· Must be familiar with text to speech, screen magnifier, and visual interpreter software and hardware. Preference for familiarity with braille.

· Must have working knowledge of Mac, Windows, Android and iOS operating systems and applications.

· Preferred: Familiarity with digital accessibility best practices and Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG). General awareness of ADA laws, WOIA/rehabilitation Act, IDEA, Section 508, and other disability laws, issues and advocacy efforts strongly preferred. General knowledge of disability rights case law on digital access.

SKILLS

· Strong organizational, interpersonal and time management skills; ability to work well autonomously and well as with teams.

· Work effectively and supportively with older adults and individuals with disabilities, providing individualized training and support.

· Possess good working knowledge of disability studies, vision loss causes and conditions, and their effect on someone’s visual acuity.

· Experience and commitment to working with and supporting participants from diverse cultures and backgrounds.

· Ability to develop and maintain positive working relationships with volunteers, colleagues, employees, and others. Collaborate with partner/host site organizations. Be a proactive community builder.

· Strong oral skills: comfortable presenting information about MABVI services and access technology topics to groups such as participants, community partners, volunteers or employees of the agency.

· Strong written skills: Prepare content for outlines, presentations, Excel spreadsheets and program handouts as requested for program outcome measurements, conference presentations, community presentations.

· Strong database management and record-keeping skills are essential. Complete and update program participant records in a timely manner with high level of sensitivity to participant confidentiality.

· Ability to anticipate problems and plan proactively. Willingness to seek help and supervision when necessary.

· Willingness to travel to multiple sites across the region and ability to travel independently and safely.

OTHER

Job Type: Part-time

Schedule: Day shift

Ability to commute/relocate:

· New Bedford, MA: Reliably commute or planning to relocate before starting work (Required)

· In the future, this Coordinator position may also travel to other South Coast communities to provide technology training in community locations and/or start up new MABVI tech training sites.

Education: Bachelor's (Preferred)

Experience: disability-related fields and technology: 3+ years (Preferred).

Bilingual, Portuguese or other language capacity ideal, not required.

Work Location: Community training sites.